8/6/2019 FE Project - Background Info

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Further Education Student Representation Project

Supporting Learner Involvement in Colleges

Stuart Jones FE Project Officer (NUS Wales)stuart.jones@nus-wales.org.uk

Tel: 02920 435390 / Mobile: 07584631232

Background of the Project

The Further Education Student Representation Project is based ondiscussions between NUS Wales, the Welsh Government, ColegauCymru,FE students and private training providers. Over the last year, the project

has provided an opportunity for intervention at grass roots level todevelop and support appropriate student representation structures andlearner involvement in FE colleges throughout Wales. Over the three yearduration of the project, it will support the Welsh Governments LearnerInvolvement Strategy for post 16 learning and reflect the learner voice inthe new Estyn Common Inspection Framework.

The project is monitored by a steering group that includes representativesfrom NUS, DfES, Estyn, ColegauCymru, a pilot college member of staff and a pilot college student rep. It meets four times per year and offers

advice on implementation of the project.

In year one, the project has focused and provided tailored support toseven pilot colleges which are as follows:

Bridgend College Coleg Glan Hafren The College Ystrad Mynach Coleg Gwent Coleg Powys

Deeside College Neath Port Talbot College

As well as support for the pilot colleges, there has also been support forall FE colleges in Wales through various events, one in particular being theall Wales Student Governor Training, an event we ran in December 2010which saw Student Governors from FE Colleges across Wales cometogether for the first time ever.

8/6/2019 FE Project - Background Info

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Aims and objectives of the Project

The project aims to:

Develop/support student representation structures and learner

involvement in FE colleges throughout Wales Tackle the challenges of FE student representation by working on a

local level with a group of colleges to be agreed upon

Create a step change in the culture amongst students, college staff and procedures to ensure Wales maintains its stance as a nationinvesting in the learner voice and engaging with FE students at a localand national level

Outputs of the Project

The project aims to promote robust and effective student representationstructures through the following outputs:

1) Provide student governor training (in conjunction with ColegauCymru)to colleges in Wales

2) Provide training (in conjunction with ColegauCymru) to Staff StudentLiaison Officers (SSLOs) and other relevant support staff in colleges inWales

3) Provide tailored training, advice and support to 6/7 colleges per yearthat will empower these institutions to independently support anddevelop student engagement structures

4) Map good practise of student engagement across FE Colleges in Wales,producing recommended solutions for FE representation structures andsignposting to materials already available

5) Develop and grow a network for SSLOs in Wales to share goodpractise in supporting student engagement and implementation of theLearner Voice Guidance

6) Advise, develop and support class representative structures in WelshFE Colleges

7) Create a sustainable method of continued FE student representationsupport beyond the terms of this project